Sri Lanka Discovery

Gay Group Tour of Sri Lanka — HIGHLIGHTS

KANDY – The cultural capital of Sri Lanka with its vibrant traditional arts scene, a superb array of Buddhist temples and palaces, and a beautiful location amidst the island’s precipitous central hills.

GALLE FORT – A perfectly preserved colonial time capsule oozing old-world atmosphere with characterful Dutch-era mansions encircled by ramparts and bastions with the crashing waves of the Indian Ocean just beyond.

The island of Sri Lanka (formerly known as Ceylon under British rule) has seduced travelers for centuries. It is one of the grandest little countries in the world, and its appeal and pleasures are myriad. Few places have as many UNESCO World Heritage Sites (eight) packed into such a small area.

Poised just above the equator in the balmy waters of the Indian Ocean it has a legendary reputation for natural beauty. A teardrop falling from the tip of India is how some geographers have described its shape or that of a pearl. A bit smaller than Ireland, a bit larger than West Virginia, this modestly sized island-country gem is nonetheless packed with impressive ancient architecture, culture, history, cuisine, nature, and wildlife!

We begin in the Cultural Triangle where more than a thousand years of history is apparent. The remarkable achievements of the early Sinhalese civilization can still be seen in the ruined city of Polonnaruwa, boasting the island’s finest collection of ancient Sinhalese art and architecture; the cave temples of Dambulla, a treasure trove of Sri Lankan Buddhist art; and the towering rock outcrop of Sigiriya (rising 1,200 feet straight up), home to the fascinating remains of one of the island’s former capitals, complete with ancient graffiti and elaborate water gardens.

Tea country

In the verdant highlands of the Hill Country we explore beautifully situated Kandy — the symbolic heart of the region, the cultural capital of the Sinhalese people, and home to the famous Temple of the Tooth. It also boasts a pleasing old quarter, a pretty central lake, and the beautiful Peradeniya Botantical Gardens, which we also visit. Also in the hills we stay a night in the British-established venerable town of Nuwara Eliya, the center of the country’s tea industry and in a very pretty setting.

Yala National Park

Dropping down to the southern coast we come to Yala National Park, Sri Lanka’s most rewarding national park and home to the world’s densest concentration of leopards alongside elephants, fabulous birdlife, monkeys, crocodiles and more.

Rounding the coast brings us to the marvelous old Dutch fort city of Galle, colonial Sri Lanka at its most perfectly preserved. Built by the Dutch, colored and styled by the Sri Lankans, and overlaid with tropical vegetation by nature, the result is enchanting. We finish off with a brief exploration of Colombo, the nation’s energetic capital.

• 12-day trip encompassing the best of Sri Lanka

• Deluxe, beautiful hotels throughout

• Most meals included

• Venture Out escort accompanying the group as well as a licensed National Guide

Previous Venture Out Guests Say:

Those who have traveled with you, and particularly myself, have appreciated every effort you’ve made on our behalf. You’ve made me quite a sloth when it comes to travel planning because I know everything will be taken care of; time will be full of visual wonders; meals and lodging will amaze and charm.— Tom B., Washington, DC

My husband and I have had the pleasure of traveling with Venture Out on more than a dozen occasions. Robert is a consummate professional. One of the things we most enjoy about traveling with him is that there is nothing to worry about. Robert attends to every detail. And, his trips always include locations, hotels and adventures you could never find on your own. I know for a fact that Rich and I are not the only ones who feel this way. We have friends here in the Bay Area who have traveled with Venture Out on many occasions and we have made friends on Robert’s trips, whom we see again and again on subsequent Venture Out tours.— Dave M. & Rich K., San Francisco

Congratulations on putting together twenty years of exquisite tours! They have provided unparalleled memories for our lifetimes.— Bill P. and Jake F., Palm Springs, CA

Just want to let you know how much I enjoyed the tour. It ran without a hitch and both the tour director and local guide gave it their all to ensure we all had a great time. It was planned such that every day got better and better. The food was great, the choices of accommodation superb, and I would definitely travel again with Venture Out knowing what caliber of client you attract. — Rick A., Minnesota

Just want to tell you what a memorable trip it was. All of our adventures with you have been outstanding, but this one really left an impression on our minds and hearts. Not just for the beauty of the wonderful places we went, but for the people and their history. We thought the people in both countries were quite wonderful and a great pleasure. As usual, you had a perfect program and everything worked like a well-oiled machine. — Ingrid D. & Judy O., Marin County, CA

I had one of the best times of my life on this trip… I so enjoyed our accommodations and destinations and the care and thought you put into your choices that I will long be recommending your tours to my traveling friends… Every day of this trip was full of pleasure for me… Thank you for a wonderful time. — Jerome M., New York City

The whole experience was a series of unanticipated pleasures. Great food from animals and their parts I had never planned to touch let alone enjoy. Much more developed architecture than I had been led to believe existed there in cities I would have visited with no one but you, and two different peoples where I had expected only two variations on a theme. As the son and brother of teachers learning that you were a teacher explains a lot to me why your tours are so much more that just a group of happy homos seeing the sights. While we did have fun and our escort certainly recharged a number of our hunk fantasies as well as intellectual curiosity, we got a feeling for civilizations beyond just a series of good photo ops. As you mentioned earlier, it was a more expensive and longer trip than usual, but the quality of the hotels (hot boutique to former palace), dining experiences (over the top drag restaurant to patio of a Chateau and Relais resort), and large variety of sites gave full value for the time and money. — Tom B., Washington, DC